Package assembly for supporting a pair of consumable product packets

ABSTRACT

A package assembly provides a pair of openable product packets which support consumable products. The product packets are accommodated in a housing. The housing is formed from an elongate planar housing structure having a central wall and a pair of oppositely directed foldable flaps extending from opposite edges of the central wall. A transition line extends longitudinally thereacross. The packets are supported on the central wall on opposite sides of the fold line. The transition line may include a fold line, a severing line or a combination thereof.

The present application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/279,783 filed on Oct. 26, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a package assembly for enclosing at least a pair of packets containing plural consumable products. More particularly, the present invention relates to a package assembly which supports a pair of product packets on opposite sides of a fold line where the fold line can further be used to sever the package assembly into two package subassemblies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Certain consumable products, such as sticks or slabs of chewing gum, may be housed in a package where the gum slabs are arranged in an array which allows ease of dispensing an individual slab therefrom. One type of package assembly which may be used to contain and dispense individually wrapped products includes a foil packet which encloses the products which are aligned in an array. The foil packet provides environmental protection to the products contained therein.

The packet may include an openable flap which can be lifted from the remainder of the packet to form a dispensing opening for allowing individual dispensing of the products contained therein. In order to reclose the packet, the packet may be supported in an outer housing typically formed of paperboard which surrounds the packet and may be reclosed once a desired number of products are dispensed from the packet.

One such reclosable package assembly is shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,773. The outer package housing not only allows reclosing of the packet, but also assists in initial opening of the packet to define the dispensing opening.

While this package serves adequately for its intended purposes, the package housing shown therein is designed to accommodate a single product packet. Moreover, as the package housing closely conforms to the product packet, there is little opportunity for advertising which will promote the use and sale of the consumable products contained therein. Still further, since only one product packet is contained within the housing, the ability to share the product with others is substantially reduced.

It is, therefore, desirable to provide a package assembly including a plurality of product packets and a package housing which will accommodate a pair of product packets and a accommodate advertising and promotional indicia which will enhance the use and sale of the consumable products and still further provide the ability to share portions of the product with others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A package assembly is provided which includes at least a pair of openable product packets for supporting consumable products. The housing accommodates the product packets. The housing is formed of an elongate planar housing structure having a central wall and a pair of oppositely directed foldable flaps extending from opposite edges of the central wall. A transition line extends longitudinally across the housing structure. The pair of the packets is supported on the central wall of the housing structure, such that at least one of the product packets is on an opposite side of the transition line from another of the product packets. Foldable flaps are foldable from a flat open configuration to a folded closed configuration. The transition line in the housing structure may be selected from the group consisting of a fold line for permitting folding of the housing structure thereat and a severing line for permitting severing of the housing structure thereat, and combinations thereof.

Further, a package assembly is provided which includes a pair of openable product packets for supporting consumable products. A housing accommodates the product packets. The housing is formed from an elongate planar housing structure having a central wall and a pair of oppositely directed foldable flaps extending from opposite edges of the central wall. A fold line extends longitudinally across the planar housing structure. The packets are supported on the central wall on opposite sides of the fold line. The foldable flaps are foldable from a flat open configuration to a folded closed configuration enclosing the packets. The housing structure is further foldable in the flat open configuration along the fold line to place the packets in generally side-by-side orientation on the housing structure.

In a preferred embodiment, the fold line can also be a severing line allowing severing the package assembly into a pair of packaging subassemblies.

In a method aspect of the present invention, a method of forming a package assembly for consumable products is disclosed. The method includes providing an elongate planar housing structure having a central wall and a pair of oppositely directed foldable flaps extending from opposite edges of the central wall. A fold line is formed longitudinally across the planar housing structure. A pair of openable product packets are attached to the central wall on opposite sides of the fold line. The foldable flaps are folded to enclose the packets.

The fold line is preferably a severing line or perforation line to allow severing of the package thereat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the package assembly of the present invention in the closed condition.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the package assembly of the present invention in the open condition.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the flat blank used to form one packet of the packaging assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the flat blank used to form the planar housing structure of the package assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the packaging assembly of the present invention severed into a pair of packaging subassemblies.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing one of the packaging subassemblies of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views showing the package assembly of FIG. 1 in a flat configuration and folded for display and dispensing purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a package assembly which accommodates a pair of product packets. Each product packet includes a plurality of consumable products such as gum slabs which are aligned in a face-to-face array. While a plurality of wrapped gum sticks are preferably shown, being arranged in two product packets, it is, of course, within the contemplation of the present invention that other consumable products, both wrapped and unwrapped, may be employed.

Moreover, in the preferred embodiment described herein below, two packets are shown forming the package assembly of the present invention. It is also contemplated that plural additional packets may be used in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the package assembly 10 of the present invention includes a pair of product packets 12, each supporting a plurality of wrapped gum slabs 14 in face-to-face orientation. The packets 12 are supported in a vertically arranged orientation on a package housing 16.

Referring additionally to FIG. 3, each packet 12 is formed from a rectangular sheet 18 of a multiply material. The sheet 18 includes opposed planar surfaces 18 a and 18 b. Inside surface 18 a may be formed from a sheet of plastic and/or paper material, while opposed surface 18 b is preferably formed of foil. The sheet 18 includes a central surface 20 which supports the plurality of the gum slabs 14. Sheet 18 includes a foldable lower extent 22 and a foldable upper extent 24 which may be folded onto the gum slabs to enclose the gum slabs in packet 12. Typically, the lower extent 22 is folded along fold lines 19, and the upper extent 24 is folded along fold lines 21 over the lower extent 22. The lower extent 22 includes spaced apart glue areas 26 on surface 18 b so as to adhesively attach the upper extent to the lower extent. The ends 28 of the sheet are folded in conventional fashion to enclose the gum slabs within the packet.

As shown in FIG. 2, each formed packet 12 is a generally rectangular member which includes a pair of opposed major surfaces 30 and 32, opposed top and bottom surfaces 34 and 36, and opposed end surfaces 38 and 40.

With further reference to FIG. 3, a laser cut 42 is formed on surface 30 along upper extent 24. Laser cut 42 is placed into the foil surface 18 b of sheet 18. The laser cut 42 forms a generally semi-circular packet flap 45 which may be opened along the upper portion of major surface 30 as well as top surface 34. The packet flap 45 includes a central tab portion 45 a, which extends from the semi-circular laser cut. The tab 45 a is located between spaced apart glue areas 26 so as to remain unattached to lower extent 22 when the packet is folded. This allows the user to initiate opening of the packet flap. In order to prevent the tab 45 a for inadvertently lifting, as for example during the manufacturing process, the cut area includes a pair of nicks 45 b. These nicks 45 b are uncut extents which keep the tab 45 a attached to the packet prior to manual lifting. As shown in FIG. 7, the opening of packet flap 45 allows the easy removal of one or more of the gum slabs 14.

Referring additionally to FIG. 4, package housing 16 is formed from a generally rectangular elongate planar paperboard blank 50. Blank 50 may be formed of conventional materials and may be die cut from a larger sheet of paperboard.

Package housing 16 includes a central wall 52 and a pair of outwardly extending housing flaps 54 and 56. The housing flaps 54 and 56 extend from parallel fold lines 54 a and 56 a at opposite edges of the central wall 52. Flap 54 includes a distal edge of reduced dimension, which forms upper and lower tabs 55 which are received in angled slots 57 formed in flap 56. As will be described in further detail hereinbelow, the insertion of the tabs 55 into the slots 57 allows reclosing of the package housing. The package housing 16 further includes an elongate transversely extending fold line 59. Fold line 59, which extends along the length of the blank 50, generally bisects the housing 16 into equal upper and lower portions. As will be described in further detail hereinbelow, the fold line 59 is preferably a perforation line. However, any other severing line such as a laser score or tearstrip which can be used to sever housing 16 into two sections is within the contemplation of the present invention. Moreover, while line 59 is preferably described as a fold line, the line can be a line of transition defining a fold line, severing line or a combination thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 2, two packets 12 may be supported on the central wall 52 of housing 16 by adhering rear major surface 32 to the central wall by use of a suitable adhesive (not shown). The packets are arranged on the central wall 52 in a vertically spaced arrangement so that one packet lies on each side of the fold line 59. As shown in FIG. 2, the packets are arranged so that the packet flaps 45 are both positioned in an upward direction as viewed in FIG. 2. However, it is contemplated that the packets may be arranged in any orientation with respect to the packet flap. For example, the packet flaps 45 may be placed in facing relationship adjacent fold line 59.

The housing 16 may be closed into a generally rectangular configuration about the packets 12 by initially adhesively securing one housing flap 54 to the other housing flap 56. Once the product is purchased by the consumer, the flaps 54 and 56 can be opened to a generally flat condition exposing the packets 12 whereby the packets can be opened by opening each packet flap 45 to allow removal of the gum slabs 14 therefrom. After use, the housing 16 can be reclosed to a foldable condition by first closing flap 56 then closing flap 54 and inserting the tabs 55 into the slots 57.

One method of using the package assembly 10 of the present invention is shown with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6. Preferably, in the open condition, the package housing 16 can be severed along the fold line 59 to divide the package assembly 10 into two package subassemblies 60 and 62. The package subassemblies can be each used independently, thus allowing sharing of the product contents by providing separately usable package subassemblies. Each package subassembly 60 and 62 is independently openable and closable inasmuch as one of the tabs 55 is insertable and removable into one of the slots 57. While the package assembly is preferably severable in the open condition, it is contemplated that the package assembly can be severed in the closed condition.

Another manner of using the package assembly 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this technique, the fold line 59 extending along a longitudinal axis of the package housing is used solely as a fold line. In the flat open condition, the package housing flaps 54 and 56 lie in the same plane as the central wall 52, as shown in FIG. 4. The package housing 16 may then be folded along the fold line 59 back substantially onto itself placing the packets 12 in generally side- by-side arrangement as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In this manner of use, it may be advantageous to arrange the packet flaps 45 of each packet 12 in face-to-face orientation adjacent fold line 59.

In this configuration, package assembly 10 may be used as a desktop or tabletop device which allows periodic dispensing of the gum slabs 14 from each packet 12. The construction and arrangement of the housing provides the ability for the package assembly to stand upright.

In this configuration, the housing flaps 54 and 56 may be further used as indicia bearing surfaces to provide various information 66 to the user. In addition to providing advertising, product content, and product information on the indicia bearing surfaces, the present invention contemplates providing value added information which makes the product more desirable to the consumer, especially when used in a tabletop or desktop manner. For example, the indicia bearing surfaces could include helpful information to the consumer, such as a calendar, measuring conversions, trivia or any other information which would make it more desirable for the consumer to purchase the package assembly and to use the package assembly in a desktop or tabletop manner.

Even in use in the desktop or tabletop manner, the consumer still has the ability to close the package assembly for transportation or to subsequently sever the package assembly into two package subassemblies.

Various changes to the foregoing described and shown structures would now be evident to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the particularly disclosed scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims. 

1. A package assembly comprising: at least a pair of openable product packets for supporting consumable products; a housing for accommodating said product packets, said housing being formed of an elongate planar housing structure having a central wall, a pair of oppositely directed foldable flaps extending from opposite edges of said central wall and a transition line extending longitudinally thereacross, said packets being supported on said central wall such that at least one of said product packets is on an opposite side of said transition line from another of said product packets, said foldable flaps being foldable from a flat open configuration to a folded closed configuration enclosing said packets; and said transition line being selected from the group consisting of a fold line for permitting folding of said housing structure thereat and a severing line for permitting severing of said housing structure thereat and combinations thereof.
 2. A package assembly of claim 1 wherein one of said foldable flaps includes a distally extending tab and the other of said foldable flap includes a slot for accommodating said tab in said closed configuration.
 3. A package assembly of claim 1 wherein said foldable flap includes an indicia bearing surface.
 4. A package assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing structure is severable at said severing line to provide at least a pair of housing subassemblies, each subassembly containing one packet of said pair.
 5. A package assembly of claim 4 wherein said severing line includes a perforation line.
 6. A method of forming a package assembly for consumable products comprising the steps of: providing an elongate planar housing structure having a central wall and a pair of oppositely directed foldable flaps extending from opposite edges of said central wall; forming a fold line longitudinally across said planar housing structure; attaching a pair of openable product packet, containing said product, to said central wall on opposite sides of said fold like; and folding said foldable flap to enclosed said product packets.
 7. A method of claim 6 wherein said fold line is a severing line for severing said planar housing thereat.
 8. A method of claim 7 wherein said severing line is a perforation line.
 9. A method of claim 6 wherein said attaching step further includes adhesively securing packet to said central wall.
 10. A method of claim 6 wherein said product packet includes an openable packet flap adjacent one edge of each said packet.
 11. A method of claim 10 wherein product packets are attached to said central wall with said openable packet flap being in facing relationship adjacent said fold line.
 12. A package assembly comprising: a pair of openable product packets for supporting consumable products; a housing for accommodating said product packets, said housing being formed of an elongate planar housing structure having a central wall, a pair of oppositely directed foldable flaps extending from opposite edges of said central wall and fold line extending longitudinally thereacross, said packets being supported on said central wall on opposite sides of said fold line, said foldable flaps being foldable from a flat open configuration to a folded closed configuration enclosing said packets; and said housing structure being further foldable in said flat open condition along said fold line to place said packets in generally a side-by-side orientation on said housing structure.
 13. A package assembly of claim 12 wherein one of said foldable flaps includes a distally extending tab and the other of said foldable flap includes a slot for accommodating said tab in said closed configuration.
 14. A package assembly of claim 12 wherein said foldable flap includes an indicia bearing surface.
 15. A package assembly of claim 12 wherein said housing structure is severable at said severing line to provide at least a pair of housing subassemblies, each subassembly containing one packet of said pair.
 16. A package assembly of claim 15 wherein said fold line includes a perforation line.
 17. A package assembly of claim 15 wherein each housing subassembly includes a subassembly back wall supporting one packet of said pair and a pair of subassembly foldable flaps for enclosing said packet.
 18. A package assembly of claim 12 wherein said product packets are adhesively supported to said central wall.
 19. A package assembly of claim 12 wherein each of said packets includes a packet flap to permit opening of said packet.
 20. A package assembly of claim 19 wherein said packet flap includes an extending tab to facilitate lifting of said packet flap.
 21. A package assembly of claim 21 wherein said tab of said packet flap is removably attached to said packet. 